The European Union Delegation to Dhaka has once again called upon Bangladesh to abolish the death penalty.
It made the appeal on Thursday ahead of the European and World Day against capital punishment to be observed on Oct 10.
The EU bloc reaffirmed its total opposition to this form of punishment on the eve of the designated days.
In a statement it also said that the abolition of capital punishment constituted “a crucial step” towards guaranteeing respect for human rights and protection of human dignity.
The EU is known for its global campaign to end death penalty under any circumstances.
According to Amnesty International, 140 countries have so far done away with capital punishment.
The European Union and the Council of Europe, however, deeply regretted in a joint statement the recent executions in Belarus, the only European country that sticks to this form of punishment.
They have strongly urged Belarus to commute the sentences of the two remaining persons sentenced to death in 2013, and to issue a moratorium on executions as a first step towards their abolition.
The EU delegation to Bangladesh said despite the global trend towards the abolition of capital punishment, the number of states that still retain the death penalty was “alarming”.
“The State, with its particular responsibility as the ultimate guarantor of all people’s human rights, should not deprive anyone of his or her life,” it said.
They mentioned the UN resolutions that called upon member States to abolish death penalty completely and establish a moratorium on executions.
“The European Union hopes that Bangladesh, as a member of the UN, will take all necessary actions to implement the UN resolutions and thereby fully contribute to the enhancement of fundamental rights and human dignity in the world”.
The EU makes the call to Bangladesh every year before the anti-death penalty day.
Source: Bd news24
